The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria (UP) is proud to announce that the first cohort of 48 students who completed the Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership Programme in Health (ASELPH) at UP were awarded their Postgraduate Diplomas in Health Systems Management at the Autumn Graduation Ceremony.

The programme, which focuses on the Harvard Case Study method, is unique in South Africa and provides a strong executive leadership orientation for both executive and other health managers. It emphasises executive leadership skills and competencies, health policy analysis and transformation, strategic health human resources and the financing of management modalities.

ASELPH focuses on three key components of health transformation in South Africa, namely the targeted training of executive, district and hospital managers who are responsible for services related to National Health Insurance; the growth of the management capability of current and emerging district leaders within the public health system who are responsible for the implementation of National Health Insurance in the context of a new primary health care platform; and the advancement of education and training for health executives who are responsible for the management of large public health programmes, including the National Strategic Plan for HIV/Aids, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and tuberculosis (TB).

This programme, which is presented by UP in partnership with the University of Fort Hare, Harvard University (represented by the Harvard University School of Public Health) and other South African partners, was launched by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, on 16 May 2013 and is aimed at health professionals who are employed in the public service and are already in possession of a relevant bachelor’s degree. Health professionals who are employed by health NGOs or in the private sector, or are not currently employed but are interested in furthering their academic qualifications, may apply. The programme aims to develop the leadership skills of managers to make them more effective in the workplace, thus ensuring improved health strategies and health outcomes for the most vulnerable sector of the population and to derive the greatest benefit from the effective and efficient provision of healthcare services driven by strong executive leaders.